Allerleirauh

Chapter 7

7

Relief filled my lungs when I heard news of my father’s departure a few days later. He had gone to discuss trade with a neighboring kingdom. I was comforted to know I would not be required to join him for more countless dinners and awkward conversations. And I would not be subjected to wear the gowns of his choosing. At least for a fortnight.

After a long day of pricking my finger on needlepoint, and a warm and filling dinner in my room, Myriah and I decided to sit in front of the large hearth; Myriah promised to read to me from a new book from the library. Just as she opened the cracked cover, a knock on the door disturbed our silence.

She wore a perplexed expression as she opened the door of my room, revealing Lord Haven, who held a large wooden box in his hands.

“I’m here with a gift from the König,” he announced as he took a step into my room.

He politely nodded to Myriah and stepped past her, extending the gift to me.

“His Majesty sent this ahead for you, princess. He wanted to extend his apologies regarding his delay in returning home. He hopes this will bring you happiness in his absence.”

I wrinkled my nose as I slowly opened the box to reveal a golden diadem decorated with small pear-shaped diamonds in each crevasse and curl of the golden metal. I looked to Lord Haven with wide eyes and ardently shook my head.

“This . . . this is too much,” I said, closing the box quickly as I tried to hand it back to Lord Haven.

He pushed his hands behind his back, disallowing me to return the diadem.

“The König insisted that you should have one of your own. He had the royal jeweler go through the crown jewels to make it for you.”

I turned my gaze to Myriah, hoping for some guidance, but she continued to stare intently at Lord Haven.

“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” I murmured softly, opening the box to look at the beautiful craftsmanship again.

Lord Haven bowed gently and gestured with his hand toward the gift. “May I?”

“Of course,” I replied and watched as Lord Haven lifted the diadem from the box and carefully lower it onto my head.

It fit perfectly—too perfectly. My hands trailed up to the fitted crown, where I carefully traced my fingertips over the embossed gold. Myriah caught my gaze, her eyes wide with an emotion I couldn’t place. I did my best to smile at Lord Haven in gratitude.

“I’ll be sure to thank father as soon as he arrives home.”

“I think that would be best,” Lord Haven agreed, offering another bow in my direction. “I shall leave you ladies now. It is late and there is much work to be done until the König returns.” Lord Haven offered nothing more before he slipped past my door and left.

As soon as the door closed behind him, my hands tugged the diadem off my head. The weight of the crown felt heavy and I carefully lowered it back into its box.

“Why would he give me this?” I asked Myriah as I lifted my gaze to hers. Her warm, dark eyes reflected the same confusion as mine. “I’m not Königin. I could never wear such a thing in the castle. I’ve never been permitted to do so before. This is far too much for me to accept.”

“Your mother held strange customs, yes,” Myriah replied. “I found it strange, hearing of her request to keep a crown from ever laying on your head. She wished only for herself and your father to be adorned with the crown jewels. Because of her vanity, she wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the castle, and you jeopardized such a thing for her. Even so,” Myriah rubbed her elbows nervously as she gazed into the wooden box. “It would do to thank your father for his generosity.” I knew her advice should be heeded as I stared at the golden diadem in the box.

“You’re right,” I replied softly and lifted the box to her. “Perhaps I should do something special for him upon his arrival back to the castle.”

“I’m sure he’d find that quite agreeable,” Myriah said plainly as she wandered back to her spot before the fire. “Would you like me to continue to read, or do you wish to retire to bed?”

By her tone, I knew Myriah did not wish to continue this discussion about my father or the diadem any further.

I sat in the tense silence for a moment as I took in all that had transpired in the last few days. I wondered if she had heard all of the rumors circulating the castle. While the castle was large, the court and servants knew how to spread gossip fast and far.

I shrugged a little in her direction and pushed myself from the bed.

“You may continue,” I replied softly as I came to sit on the floor beside her. I pulled the strands of my hair over my shoulder as I tugged on a nearby white-laced shawl. Myriah opened the book again and began to read as I did what I could to keep warm.